TAXES: Ten Inland tax preparers accused of refund fraud

Curtis Lowe, 27, who last claimed a Compton address, was among 10 Inland Southern California residents to be charged in indictments Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, over a federal investigation into income tax fraud. He allegedly worked with a co-defendant Nancy Hilton, owner of total Tax Preparations Inc., and Nancy L. Olson & Associates, of Moreno Valley, to file false returns. Lowe was being sought by federal authorities, a release issued Feb. 6 by federal authorities says.

Federal investigators unsealed indictments on Thursday, Feb. 6, on three cases that charge 10 Inland Southern California income tax preparers and associates with fraud over their alleged roles to seek millions of dollars in tax refunds.

The first case charged eight defendants linked to two Moreno Valley businesses â" Total Tax Preparation and Nancy L. Olson & Associates â" with crimes involving the alleged filings of bogus federal tax returns, sometimes in the names of unsuspecting taxpayers, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service reported.

Two others were indicted on multiple felony charges for their alleged roles in San Bernardino County based tax fraud schemes, federal authorities said.

John Metters, 50, was charged with making false claims against the government, aggravated identity theft and government theft. For the tax years 2007 through 2010, Mettersâ alleged false IRS tax returns sought refunds of more than $265,000, according to a release by the Department of Justice.

Claudia Cox, 42, owner of New Beginnings Re-Entry CCC and Inland Valley Paralegal & Financial Service, was charged with wire fraud, identity theft, submitting false claims and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Cox was accused of manipulating client information in 2007 and 2008 for more than 250 people, making false claims totaling more than $1 million. She was also accused of filing tax returns to generate a refund with a clientsâ knowledge or consent to pocket the refund.

At arraignment, the following defendants pleaded not guilty: Cox, Hilton, Gray and Connor. All but one other defendant had not yet entered pleas. Mid-day Thursday, Lowe was still being sought by federal authorities.

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